Father-of-five Geoff Simmons risks a £180 fine if he takes three of his children to his brother's wedding

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A Bath man has been told three of his children can’t have a day off school for his brother's wedding - despite two of his younger kids being given permission to go.

Geoff Simmons has been told at the last minute by Writhlington School he can’t take his children out for his brother’s nuptials next Monday (November 27), despite asking permission more than two weeks ago.

The father-of-five has already bought clothes for the children, whose ages range from six to 17, and three of them are meant to be page boys at the wedding.

The two youngest children, aged six and eight, attend St Saviour’s infant and junior school in Bath and they have been given permission to go.

But the three older children, aged 12, 15 and 17, have been told no by Writhlington School near Radstock.

Now Mr Simmons faces the prospect of taking some of his children and leaving the others behind or risk facing £180 in fines by taking the older ones out illegally.

Writhlington School said no to the absence request for a family wedding

The father, who says he has never taken his children out of school during term time before, wants to highlight the confusion faced by parents when seeking permission to take children out during term time.

He also wants to point out how different schools in the area seem to follow different rules.

Mr Simmons said: “We did all the right things.

“We applied for permission two weeks before,which is the requirement, and we only heard back yesterday [November 22], five days before the wedding.

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After what he claims were several attempts to contact the school and appeal the decision, Mr Simmons received an email today (November 23) to say he did not fulfill the criteria and any absence would be unauthorised.

The council’s website says: “Schools will consider every request individually. However, the most important consideration will be the effect that such an absence would have on your child’s education.

“Schools cannot and will not authorise absence for holidays in term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.”

Some might argue a day’s absence for a close family member’s wedding or other special event could be interpreted as ‘exceptional’ and schools, especially Writhlington as it is an academy, have some liberty in interpreting the guidelines if they choose to do so.